Airship, balloon, aeroplane, and the like.



, R. WAGNEML 0. VON R ADIN GER. v I AIESHIP, BALLOON, AEROPLANE, AND THE LIKE.

JAPPLIGATION FILED MAY 3.1909.

Patented Opt. 31, 1911.

nunozir WAGNER, or s'rETT'Iiv, AND oARL VON RADINGEB, or W'ELL'INGDO'RF, NEAR KIEL, GERM Y.

- Amsnrr, BALLOON, AEROPLANE, AND-THE LIKE.

To all whom itmay concern:

1B it known that we, RUDOLF WAGNER and RADI GER, subjects of the German residing, respectively, at Stettln CARL Emper and Wellingdorf, near Kiel, Germany, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Airships, Balloons, Aeroplanes, and the L- cationQ-f 1 1 This "invention relates to air ships, balloons,aeroplapes and the like. on time objects of the vention is to provide a pframe for airships'and the like which will beiof great strength and lightne'ss'andwhich will enable the operator to remain in flight as long as possible. To this end the invention contemplates ;a framework structure formed wholly or torequirements-or else forced back out of partially of tubes of light and yet durable material the internal diameters of which are comparativelylarge. In such structure the tubes serve, inladd-ition to their func- 'tion asagframework members, frames or str'uts, either wholly or partially as storage or compensating reservoirs for compressedgas for "supporting purposes and in orderto enablegas losses to be made good aswell as" toim-prove the power of maneuvering and the longitudinal stability 'of the'machine, gas is-let out of the tubular reservoirs into the varioifslgascells of the machine according the cells into the reservoirs by provided for this purpose. v

A further object of this inventio'n 'is to provide for more ready and easy transportaa gas pump tion of suchstructures, for which purpose thev machine framework comprises a number of separately removable sections arranged .end to end to form the complete structure. In some cases the separate sections are capable of being folded up and inrsuch con structionswhen the machine is' in' use,- the longitudinal tubular members are forced outwardly by radial struts, assisted, it may ma special tension devices or by expansion of the fluid tight gas envelop supported by the framework I I The framework of an air ship or balloon constructed according to this invention may be in the forirrnfan' eight'ror ten-sided prism with pointed ends for example, or shaped like a'torpedo-,- the corners of such framework being constituted by longitudinally arranged tubes-of the "kind set forth which Specification of Letters Patent.

e, of which the following is a specifijoined up to form acage-like structure. The

struts may consist. of aluminium trellis-like girders or of tubes. 1

For the purpose of enabling the whole structure to constitute-what may be termed' a girder .or girders the depth or height of which corresponds orflcorrespond to the full 'Patented Oct. 31, ran. "Application filed May 3, 1909. Serial No. 493,723. i I

diameter of 'theballoon the framework may v be stiffened longitud-inallyby an' internal or external system of ties or members located in the' principal planes of the structure similar to la bridge, or circumferental or diagonal tension ropes 'of steel wire may-be provided'in the outer wall or casing struc- I ture formed by the longitudinal tubes. In

a construot-ion of this latter kind a separate keelgirder may be provided for the stiffen- 'ing of the balloon longitudinally as in, say, the Zeppelin balloon, or theso-called semirigid system may be omitted and the cars .may b'evsuspended directly from the framework of the balloon;

In some cases the structure: ofthe-frame work'does not completelyfollow the shape of the balloon but only embraces thelower part thereof.' v

It is obvious that in the semi-rigid systems also the car framework may be made oftubes for the purposes hereinbefore mentioned.

Figure l of the accompanying illustrative drawings is a diagrammatic side elevation of one construction of balloon framework ac-' cording to this invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse section thereof. .-Fig. 3 shows one of the disconnected sections of the framework folded up. Figs. 4 and 5 are similar views to Figs. land 3 respectively illustrating another construction of balloon framework according tothisinvention. --Fig. 6 is a sectional view of one. form of construction for' the longitudinaltubes. Y In the constructions illustrated the framework comprises a number of substantially cylindrical or prismatic. folding sections each built up, of, longitudinal tubular members a, radial struts I) also of tubes, diagonal tension ropes-d, and circumferential tension ropes e. The radial struts b of each set are pivoted at their outer ends at a to the longitudinal members a and at their inner ends at 0 to aoommon ring a and are so arranged I that whenopened or splayed out to a cer- 2o ,structed of cylindrical form as shown in form, are provided in connection with tain angle after the manner of an umbrella the diagonal tension ropes (Z and circum ferential ropes e are placed under tension.

For'the purpose of so opening out the radial tubular struts i), central tension ropes f are connected to the rings 0 and tightening devices f, of any suitable or well-known such ropes f. After loosening the tension ropes f the whole skeleton collapses. The longitudi- -nal tubes at of each section, the ends of which may be closed by caps i of aluminum (Fig. 6) are connected to the longitudinal tubes of the adjacent section by easily detachable couplings, such as swing bolts 7;, The end sections of the framework, which are of frusto-conical or pyramidal form,are

likewise capable of being folded up.

A balloon framework adapted to be folded up in the manner described can be con Fig. 1 or of torpedo shape as shown in Fi a. The framework shown in Fig. 4 di ers from that of Fig. 1 in that a tension rope f runs longitudinally right through the machine and such rope is furnished with but one tightening appliance f, whilein the framework shown in Fig. 1 there is a tension rope for each section and each rope' has its corresponding tightening device.

The gas envelops g of the balloons may i be located within the cage-like framework,

, stretched .over the exterior as shown in Fig. 1, and be there secured to the tubes (1 and b by buckles or other suitable fastening devices on or they may be of the framework li'ke'a screen covering. Bands h'can be arranged to cover the gaps between-the gas envelops' so that the balloon presents an even surface externally.

at one or two of the longitudinal tubes at, in

order toenable them at those parts to be moved in or out by the aid of mechanical devices after the manner of a bellows.

Suitable materials for the manufacture of appropriate tubes for the purposes specified are paper, teXt-ilefabric, or other fibrous material wound in layers and united into a compact mass by the use of a binding agent and high pressure, and either with or with out intermediate layers of metal, as, for ex ample, stout steel wire, also aluminium or its alloys, or some other light metal with comparatively great strength. Several forms of inexact tubing of this general character are shown and described in our co-pending application Serial No. 493,722. Or these tubes may, if desired, be formed of thin, spirally rolled steel, as, described in the specification of German Patent No. 185085, orsimilar material which combines great strength with lightness.

Tubes constructed as hereinbefore described may naturally beused for air ships without any gas charge therein, that is to say, for the manufacture of the'framing of aeroplanes and propeller air-ships,.etc., and in such case the tubes may be used as receptacles for'the fuel.

While we, in order that our invention may be more readily understood, have herein shown and described the same as embodied in certain -particular constructions, it is to be understood that many changes may be made in these constructions -without departing from the spirit and scope of said invention.

What we claim is z.- 1. A frame structure for air ships, balloons, aeroplanes and the like, comprising a number of folding-sections and detachable means forconnecting said sections together end to end.

2. A frame structure for air ships, balloons, aeroplanes and the like, comprising a number of folding substantially prismatic sections, and detachable means for connecting said sections together end 'to end.

3. A framestructure for air-ships, balloons, aeroplanes and the like, comprising a number of folding sections, one or more of which is of a substantially pyramidal form, and detachable means for connecting said sections together.

4. A frame structure for air ships, balloons, aeroplanes and the like, comprising a number of collapsible sections built up of tubular members, detachable means for connecting said sections together endh) end, and means for preventing said sections-collapsing whenin use. p

,5. In a frame structure for air ships, balloons, aeroplanes and the like, tubular lonforce outwardly the' outer ends of radial,-

struts with-said longitudinal members.

6. In a frame Structure for air ships, balloons, aeroplanes and the like, tubular longitudinal -members, diagonal tension ropes connecting said longitudinal members, endless circumferential tension ropes to which gi'tudinal members, diagonal tension ropes.

said longitudinalmembers are connected at regular distances apart,-radial struts formed of tubes each pivoted at one end to a corresponding one of said longitudinal members, centrally arranged rings to which the other ends of said radial struts are pivoted. in sets,

and means for moving said rings in directions that force outwardly the outer ends of radial struts with said longitudinal members.

7 In a frame structure forair ships, bal loons, aeroplanes and they like, tubular longitudinal members, diagonal tension ropes connecting said longitudinal memberaiendless circumferential tension ropes to which said'longitudinal members are connectdtlgat regular distances apart, radial struts each pivoted at one end to a corresponding one of said longitudinal members, centrally arranged rings to which the other ends of said radial struts are pivoted in sets, lon itudinal tension ropes tofwhich said rings are connected, and means for tightening said ropes.

8. Ina frame structure for air ships, balloons, aeroplanes and the like, tubular longitudinal members, diagonal tension ropes connecting said longitudinal members, endless circumferential tension ropes to which said longitudinal members are 'connected at regular distances apart, radial struts each plvoted at oneend to a corresponding one of said longitudinal members, centrally \arranged rings to which the other 'ends of said radial 'strutsare. pivoted in sets, gas envelopse'mbraced by said longitudinal members, means for connecting said gas envelops to said. longitudinal members, and means for moving said rings in directions that force outwardly the, outer ends of radial struts with said longitudinal members.

9. In a frame s'tructure'for air ships, balloons, aeroplanes and the like, tubular lon} 'gitudinal members, diagonal tension ropes connecting said longitudinal members, end-, less circumferential tension ropes to which said longitudlnal members are connected.-,at.

regular distances apart, radial struts each 1 0 In a frame structure for air shipsyballoons, aeroplanes and the like, a number of sections arranged end to end and each comprising tubular longitudinal members, diagona'l tension ropes'connecting said longitudinal members, endless circumferential tension ropes to which said longitudinal members are connected at regulardistances.

apart, radial struts each pivoted at one end to a corresponding one of said longitudinal members, centrally arranged rings to which the other ends of said radial struts are pivoted in sets, and means for moving said rings in directions that force outwardly the outer ends of radial struts with said longitudinal mem ers, gas envelops embraced by said longitudinal members of said sections,

-means for connecting said gas envelops to said longitudinal members of said sections,

and means adapted to cover the juxtaposed ends of said gas envelops.

Signed at Stettin, Germany, this 13th day of April 1909, by'RUDOLF WAGNER.

, RUDOLF WAGNER. Witnesses as to signature of Rudolf Wagner:

W. KELL, v A O. HORBISOH. j "In testimony wheredf-I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

' 'CARLVON RADINGER. Witnesses as to signature of Carl Edler Von Radinger:

JULIUS Korma, WILHELM KRUTZFELDT; 

